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GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Transfiguration Sunday The Fourteenth Day of February in the year of our Lord 2021

The Reverend Earl P. Trygar Sr., Presider

Welcome to Grace Episcopal Church. The mission of Grace Episcopal Church is to proclaim as our Savior. We are dedicated to growing the Kingdom of by actively living out our Baptismal Covenant. Through God’s grace we are committed to welcoming all, nurturing each other, building loving relationships with friends and strangers alike, and being renewed through the power of the Holy Spirit.

MUSIC VOLUNTARY

All who are able please stand as the liturgical ministers enter

THE HOLY EUCHARIST

OPENING ACCLAMATION

Presider Blessed be God: Father, , and Holy Spirit People And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever. Amen

Presider Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen

THE GLORIA GLORIA IN EXCELSIS

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, , you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of . Amen

THE COLLECT FOR THE LAST SUNDAY AFTER THE

Presider Let us pray. O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

THE LESSONS The people sit.

THE HEBREW 2 Kings 2.1-12 Cecilia Hebda, Lector

This story recounts the bodily ascension of and the commissioning of Elisha as his successor. “The company of prophets” come to meet Elisha. They are members of the prophetic guilds, often advisors to the kings. When they come to the Jordan, Elijah parts the waters like Moses at the Red Sea and Joshua at the Jordan. Elisha asks Elijah for “a double share, a portion of a firstborn son, of his spirit. The fire that separates the two men is associated with the power of God acting through Elijah.

Lector A Reading from the second book of Kings.

When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the LORD will take your master away from you?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent.” Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; for the LORD has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the LORD will take your master away from you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know; be silent.”

Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” He responded, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.” As they continued walking and talking, a of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha kept watching and crying out, “Father, father! The of Israel and its horsemen!” But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

Lector The Word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God.

All Read the Psalm in Unison

Psalm 50:1-6 Deus deorum/God of

1 The LORD, the God of gods, has spoken; * he has called the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.

2 Out of Zion, perfect in its beauty, * God reveals himself in glory.

3 Our God will come and will not keep silence; * before him there is a consuming flame, and round about him a raging storm.

4 He calls the heavens and the earth from above * to witness the judgment of his people.

5 "Gather before me my loyal followers, * those who have made a covenant with me and sealed it with sacrifice."

6 Let the heavens declare the rightness of his cause; * for God himself is judge.

THE EPISTLE 2 Corinthians 4.3-6 Cecilia Hebda, Lector

Paul defends his apostolic ministry against opponents in the Corinthian Church. To the charge of self- glorification, he replies that he preaches to make God known. He summarizes Christian belief in “Jesus Christ as Lord” and Christian ministry as service to others for Jesus’s sake.

Lector A Reading from the second Book of Corinthians.

Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Lector The Word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God.

THE HOLY GOSPEL Mark 9.2-9 The Reverend Earl P. Trygar Sr., Gospeler

The account of Jesus’s transfiguration echoes God’s appearance to Moses on Mount Sinai. The voice from the cloud repeats the statement from Jesus’s baptism with the additional command “listen to him”. As Moses represents the tradition of the law, so Elijah represents the prophetic tradition. Mark emphasizes Peter’s confused responses. The dwellings he proposes building would be like those built in the vineyards at the time of the Jewish Feast of Booths.

Gospeler The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark. People Glory to you, Lord Christ. Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, “, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

Gospeler The Gospel of the Lord. People Praise to you, Lord Christ.

The people sit. THE SERMON The Reverend Earl P. Trygar Sr.,

A period of silent reflection follows

THE

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Cecilia Hebda, Leader

Leader Let us pray to the Holy One whose glory is like a chariot of fire and a raging whirlwind, saying, Show us your glory and hear us.

For the Church: and especially for Michael our Presiding Bishop, Kevin our bishop and Earl our interim rector, that we may transform the world as we proclaim God's love through service to all. God of light, People show us your glory and hear us.

Leader For this parish family, that we who have been in the presence of Christ may be the shining light that illumines earth’s darkness. God of light, People show us your glory and hear us.

Leader For peace in all places of war, violence and unrest, that barriers may crumble and suspicions and hatred may cease. God of light, People show us your glory and hear us.

Leader For each of us as we embark on the journey of Lent, that we may walk humbly and honestly in God’s presence each day. God of light, People show us your glory and hear us.

Leader For all who are ill and all who are in need of our prayers, remembering especially Helen, Duane, James, Art and all those from your submitted thanksgivings and intercessions (pause) that God will raise up the sick and return them to wholeness, free the human family from the coronavirus and speed the distribution of the vaccines. God of light, People show us your glory and hear us.

Leader For those who have died, that they may see the glory of God face to face. God of light, People show us your glory and hear us.

Leader Lifting our voices with all creation, with Mary the God-bearer, and all the saints, let us offer ourselves and one another to the living God through Christ. People To you, O Lord our God.

Presider Blessed are you, God of light eternal. Hear our prayers for all people and let your glory shine on us this day, that our lives may proclaim your goodness and our works give you honor, through Jesus Christ our Savior. AMEN.

THE PEACE Presider The peace of the Lord be always with you. People And also with you.

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Please remember the financial needs of the church are ongoing. You may send in your offerings to Grace Episcopal Church, 30 Butler Street, Kingston Pa 18704.

THE OFFERTORY SENTENCE

THE HOLY COMMUNION

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING Eucharistic Prayer B

Presider The Lord be with you. People And also with you. Presider Lift up your hearts. People We lift them to the Lord. Presider Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People It is right to give him thanks and praise.

The Presider continues

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you , Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

Here a Proper Preface is said on all Sundays, and on other occasions as appointed.

Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

Presider and People THE SANCTUS

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. The people remain standing. The Presider continues

We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus, your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life. On the night before he died for us, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.” Therefore, according to his command, O Father,

Presider and People We remember his death, We proclaim his resurrection, We await his coming in glory;

The Presider continues And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine. We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we may be acceptable through him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and bring us to that heavenly country where, all your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of your and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation. By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,

THE LORD’S PRAYER Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD A period of silence is kept.

THE FRACTION

Presider Jesus, Lamb of God: People have mercy on us. Presider Jesus, bearer of our sins: People have mercy on us. Presider Jesus, redeemer of the world: People give us your peace.

THE MINISTRATION OF THE SACRAMENT

Please stand. All say A PRAYER OF SAINT ALPHONSUS – AN ACT OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there and unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.

THE BLESSING AND DISMISSAL

MUSIC VOLUNTARY